How life has changed in Isles of Scilly

Isles of Scilly's population increased by about 100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population changed very little

In the decade to 2011, the population of Isles of Scilly remained close to 2,200.

The addition of just over 50 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

In 2011, Isles of Scilly was home to, on average, 0.96 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Isles of Scilly

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Isles of Scilly increased by three years, from 43 to 46 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 50 and 59 years decreased by about 50.

About 15.0% of people in Isles of Scilly are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Isles of Scilly by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Isles of Scilly

Isles of Scilly saw England's largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 9 in 10 (90.0%) in Isles of Scilly reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 92.0% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 1.5% to 2.5%.

Tower Hamlets saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 91.4% to 92.4%).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Isles of Scilly saw England's largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Isles of Scilly said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 19.1% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.8% to 2.0%.

Richmondshire saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of people working long hours (from 20.4% to 22.7%).

Long hour working in Isles of Scilly decreased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Isles of Scilly, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

Isles of Scilly saw England's largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.0%) households in Isles of Scilly had only one person, compared with 27.2% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 7.3% to 10.2%.

Barrow-in-Furness saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of one-person households (from 29.9% to 34.6%).

The percentage of households with only one person in Isles of Scilly increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Isles of Scilly, the South West and England that comprised only one person, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

Isles of Scilly saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under one in five (19.8%) households in Isles of Scilly had at least one dependent child, compared with 24.2% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 69.0% to 74.2%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of households with children occurred in Burnley (from 33.7% to 29.2%).

The proportion of households with children in Isles of Scilly decreased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Isles of Scilly, the South West and England with at least one dependent child, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Isles of Scilly saw England's largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.2%) people aged 16 and over in Isles of Scilly said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 8.4% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 58.9% to 53.5%.

Rother saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner (from 10.4% to 12.9%).

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner in Isles of Scilly increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over in Isles of Scilly, the South West and England that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in Isles of Scilly housing

Isles of Scilly saw England's largest fall in the proportion of privately rented homes.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.7%) households in Isles of Scilly rented privately, compared with 32.0% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes remained close to 18.1%.

Tower Hamlets saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes (from 16.4% to 32.6%).

Private renting was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that rented privately across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health fell in Isles of Scilly, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas across England, except Barnsley and Manchester.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 8.5% to 5.1%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) in Isles of Scilly said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 5.1% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 74.2% to 85.8%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad occurred in Wokingham (from 4.6% to 2.8%) followed by Surrey Heath (from 5.3% to 3.2%).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Isles of Scilly decreased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Isles of Scilly, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

Isles of Scilly saw the South West's largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.8%) people aged 16 to 74 in Isles of Scilly said they were employed, compared with 50.5% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed remained close to 1.1%.

Across the region, East Devon saw the next largest increase in the proportion of employed people (from 45.5% in 2001 to 48.5% in 2011).

During this period, Isles of Scilly overtook 10 local authority areas, including Bath and North East Somerset and Exeter, to become the South West local authority area with the 10th-highest percentage of employed people.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Isles of Scilly

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Isles of Scilly, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 15.2 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 37.3% of respondents in Isles of Scilly said they had no religion, up from 22.1% in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 61.2% of respondents in Isles of Scilly said they were Christian, down from 77.2% in 2001. About 0.6% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from 0.3% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Isles of Scilly increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and Isles of Scilly by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Isles of Scilly saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, 1.6% of in Isles of Scilly reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.5% to 0.9%.

Across the region, only Torbay (from 2.8% to 3.6%) and Forest of Dean (from 2.0% to 2.7%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.0% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Isles of Scilly remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Isles of Scilly by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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